VIEW FROM MY RUN
An exercise in creative cross-training
I combine my artistic and athletic practices by drawing something I see on my run, in the same amount of time as the run.
This series is a visual journal of my training—and my love letter to New York City.
I’m a self-proclaimed uncoordinated art kid who went from remedial gym class to Runner’s World.
Following a career pivot from designer to illustrator when I was 39 years old, a few of my sporty-creative friends invited me to run a half-marathon. Cool! The only problem? I hadn’t run a mile, ever.
I had cringey flashbacks of middle school, where I failed the Presidential Physical Fitness Test (where are my fellow ‘80s kids?!) and was put in “remedial gym class,” which was actually just the weight room. Every gym class period, a few of us would do the Walk of Shame straight to the weight machines and nobody gave us any instruction on how to use them. Looking back, that was pretty messed up, and probably solidified the bad relationship I had with physical fitness and sports most of my life.
Lucky for us, people evolve and change. And I definitely did! With this new 13.1 mile challenge presented to me, I channeled my “figure it out” attitude I use in art-making and I got myself new sneakers and spiffy running gear, and downloaded a Couch to 5K app. I trained for 12 weeks, I finished the half-marathon, and I got a shiny medal at the end. I was now a runner, and I was HOOKED!
I kept running and did a whole bunch more races. At the same time, I was illustrating a whole bunch more picture books… three in one year. That is a lot!
My brain needed a break…and some serious creative cross-training.
One evening, while on a run over the Manhattan Bridge, I saw a gorgeous sunset. I snapped a photo with the intention of painting the scene as a watercolor landscape, just for fun. As I continued running, I looked down at my watch and had a moment of inspiration. I thought, I can paint this sunset, but then it will just be a sunset. But if I paint the sunset in the same amount of time as this run, then the two things become connected.
And View From My Run was born. The project has been featured by Runner’s World, New York Road Runners, and seen by thousands of New Yorkers on the LinkNYC kiosks.
“WHENEVER LORI RICHMOND RUNS, SHE PAINTS.”
RUNNER’S WORLD
Here’s what people always ask me about View From My Run
How do you draw so quickly?
I'm not sure... I just do it. I don't make pencil sketches before I ink, I don't erase, and I don't start over when I make a mistake. Like in running, I push through and keep going. I work around it. The series is not about being precious or perfect, it's about documenting the run!
What art supplies do you use?
I use a bunch of different pens and paints. How I choose depends on what I am drawing, how much time I have, and whether I’m doing color or just line.
Does it make you nervous to draw while on a timer?
Weirdly, I find it relaxing! Knowing I have limited time means I don't think about it too much, and I feel free to make the marks as they come. It's fun and loose. When the timer goes off, I stop.
Do you run with your art supplies?
No, but I've heard plenty of jokes about strapping an easel to my back.
I’ve been a guest artist at New York Road Runners and taught others how to draw a view from their run
View From My Run on LinkNYC kiosks around the city
Follow View From My Run on Instagram, @loririchmonddraws
About me
Hi! I’m Lori, artist, author-illustrator, and self-proclaimed ‘uncoordinated art kid who went from remedial gym class to Runner’s World.’
Following a career change at age 39, a few of my sporty studio mates invited me to run a half-marathon, even though I hadn’t run a mile, ever. Ready to just “figure it out”—and really wanting a medal—I bought my first pair of New Balance 1260s, trained for 12 weeks, and finished the 13.1-mile race utterly hooked. Countless miles, many half-marathons, and three New York City marathon finishes later, I have now raced—and drawn—all five boroughs of New York City.
